Phantom power saver power tap

ABSTRACT

An apparatus, system and method are disclosed for eliminating phantom power wastage utilizing a power tap. An insulation casing creates a receiving space for a printed circuit board which mounts male blades, female receptacles, phantom power indication and a mechanical electrical switching capability is disclosed. The conductive male blades and female receptacles create a cross pattern for a two pronged power tap that allows miniaturization of the power tap so as to allow full access to adjacent electrical outlets. Switching states include normally open which permits zero power flow and normally closed which permits power indication and allows power to flow from conductive male blades to conductive female receiving receptacles.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a power tap and moreparticularly to a switchable power tap capable of intervention in theconsumption of standby power or phantom power through electrical andmechanical manual intervention.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of PPA Appl No. 61181407

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional power tap (sometimes called current tap) includes aplastic electrical insulating case with metal plugs as inserts connectedin a manner to fan out electricity from one electrical input to morethan one electrical outputs. Conventionally this power is passed throughthe power tap unobstructed. Typically a power tap would have protrudingmetal blades. Equally the power tap would have cavities with metalreceptacles that accept the insertion of metal blades from electricalplugs and power adapters. Power taps often use metal inserts to routeelectricity from the protruding blades to the metal receptacles.

Conventional power taps come in forms that provide an electrical fan outscheme that has a single set of male blades and three or six sets ofmetal female receptacles. These types of power taps have thedisadvantage of large size whereby the power tap may plug into anelectrical wall outlet and cover over the adjacent outlet. Anotherdisadvantage is that some of the metal receptacles are covered orsmothered by electrical plugs inserted or power adapters inserted. Thisspecific disadvantage reduces the utility of a three to one or six toone power tap. A further disadvantage is the lack of control ofelectrical conductivity between protruding male blades and femalereceptacles.

Conventional electrical power tap assemblies use an offset approach toassemble male blades and female receptacles whereby the male blades andfemale receptacles are not in the ideal vertical plane with one anotherbut are often in the same horizontal line up. This causes the need for alarger than necessary power tap which can overlap adjacent outlets.Additionally, a perfectly aligned vertical and horizontal male bladesand female blades would cause the height of the power tap to increase inan inefficient manner. As a result the assembly of the power tap becomeslarger or the assembly would become less reliable with a higher risk ofinadvertent contact between male and female blades causing increasedrisk of electrical shock.

There is growing concern about global warming caused by the increasedlevels of green house gases in the atmosphere. This problem isexacerbated by the burning of fossil fuels to generate electricity. Moreelectricity demand drives more burning and increased global warming.Solutions are needed to reduce electricity demand. Macro level fixes andsmall micro level fixes are equally desirable. The benefit of microslevel fixes is that individual consumers can have an impact. It isthought that where power consumption provides some utility or benefit tothe user, some harmful environmental side effects are tolerated so longas the benefit is measureable. Where there is no measureable benefit orwasted power or lost electrical power no environmental side effects canbe tolerated.

It is commonly known that modern electronic and electrical devices andappliances consume electricity to perform their intended function. Whatis not commonly known is that when these electronic and electricaldevices and appliances are not performing their intended function, theycontinue to consume electricity as they have a standby mode thatconsumes what is less commonly known as phantom power or standby power.

Standby or phantom power consumption is said to comprise up to 10% of ahouseholds electricity bill each month. This phantom power provides nouseful benefit to the consumer. One common culprit of phantom power areAC-DC adapters and battery chargers used with all sorts of electronicslike television sets, cell phones, cordless phones computers andprinters. These devices are often left unplugged to consume phantompower without providing a measureable benefit to their owners.

Power adapters and chargers use only a small amount of electricity whenin standby mode but it is commonly known that there are hundreds ofmillions of these in use around the world and collectively theycontribute to a sizeable waste of electricity. Many disclosed poweradapters and chargers have been designed to reduce power consumption butnot eliminate all standby power. Some have even been disclosed that haveautomatic shut off or automatic detect features that strive to reducepower drain. Other electrical power strips have electrical outlets withone switch per outlet. Even more disclosed products detect power drainon computer peripherals when the computer has been turned off. Thedisadvantage of standby power detection and automatic shut off is thatthey have increased points of failure, increased cost, and a largerfootprint where these attributes are not desirable.

The Phantom power saver power tap purports to help people consume lessphantom power and thus provides a means to reduce energy consumption inhomes and offices. To achieve this, the Phantom Power Saver Power Taputilizes numerous engineering principles and designs that are both noveland unique. These are described herein:

Indicators are provided that highlight the state of power consumption ina manner that indicates consuming power or not consuming power.Indicators of various types are used that include but are not limited tovisual, audible, scent, touch, with wireless and wireline basedsignalling. Visuals may be manifested in the form of lights LEDs etc.Audibles may be manifested in the form of speakers, vibrating devicesetc. Smells may be manifested in the form of scent generators etc. Feelsmay be manifested in the form of vibrating or temperature changingdevices etc. Wireless indicators could be radio frequency based in acontrolled spectrum or free spectrum. Wired indicators may use dedicatedcommunications wiring or may use may use power line wiring. FIG. 8depicts these indicator functions schematically—only the LED variationis shown in the figures.

Intervention function. The most common forms of intervention of powerconsumption are in the mode of unplugging or using an on off switch. Theproblems are that many people find unplugging inconvenient and manyswitches do not turn off the appliance off in its entirety. Thus anintervention device or switch or unplugging method, external to theappliance is needed. This intervention can be manifested in the form ofa double pole double throw switch, a single pole single throw switch, ora mechanical formed switch of metal or plastic or an electrical pulse orwireless pulse or signal.

A phantom power saving power tap can begin to eliminate this phantompower loss though manual intervention. Conventional Power taps, powerstrips and power adapters with automatic detection and automatic shutoff or automatic disconnect or power taps operated by remote controlsintroduce more points of failure and often consume electrical power inthe power detection stage and in the power disconnect stage.

Consequently, there is still a need for certainty in the elimination ofphantom power, where this certainty can only come from humanintervention of manually activating a normally closed switch to the openposition where electricity is disconnected from phantom electrical loadswith the greatest certainty.

In order to overcome the disadvantages of usefulness, size and lack ofcontrol a phantom power saving power tap is disclosed which includes asingle set of male blades and either a single set of receptacles or twosets of receptacles. The assembly is such that two can be used on atypical household electrical outlet. The ninety degree rotation of maleblades and female receptacles is not intuitive but allows for enhancedminiaturization. The placement of male blades between female receptaclesis also not intuitive, nor obvious. The ninety degree rotation is alsonot intuitive or obvious because often plugs have a third prong forground. This invention is focused on miniaturizing the power tap for twopronged devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

I have invented an external intermediary phantom power saver power tapapparatus that provides the ability to switch off phantom power loadsthrough manual human intervention. The apparatus attaches to anelectrical power source on one side and to an electrical load or deviceon the opposite side thus situating itself as an intermediary switchapparatus between the power source and phantom electrical load. Theapparatus comprises firstly a power accessing plug on the rear sidewhich has protruding properly sized and polarized male blades or prongs.Secondly, on the front side the apparatus is comprised of cavitiesformed to accept the insertion of a properly sized and polarizedelectrical plug or set of polarized blades. Thirdly the apparatus iscomprised of a printed circuit board with circuitry used to provideindication that power is being consumed as well as a single pole singlethrow switch and of course a portion of the male and female blades orprongs. When the switch is in the normally closed position electricalpower flows from the hot male prong through the switch and is passeddirectly to the female prongs and out to the connected electronicequipment or power adapter. Also with the switch in the normally closedposition, a small amount of electricity is diverted through anelectrical circuit to power the indicator function making it active. Theindicator function in this case may be visual, audible, scented, touch,wireless and wireline based signalling. In the case of the visualindicator function the preferred embodiment is a light emitting diode.With the indicator active it becomes obvious that power is beingconsumed and the correct action can be taken to continue to allow powerto be consumed or to manually turn the switch to the normally openposition to disallow any power from being consumed. With the switch inthe normally open position, no electrical power is provided to thefemale blades or connected device and no electrical power is provided tothe electrical circuit that powers the indicator function.

Blade orientation; critical to the design of a plug and receptacle inone device, power tap, current tap or power bar is its compactness. Tothat end the interspersed 15 R and 15P male blade and female receptaclesin an ‘above’ or ‘on’ manner or in a cross pattern configuration iscritical to this application. Blade layout such that female bladereceptacles are directly above male receptacles but are rotated byeither plus ninety degrees or minus ninety degrees are critical to thedesign. This orientation provides the ability for a current tap or powerbar to be used without covering adjacent wall outlets. This orientationprovides the ability for multiple current taps to be installed on thesame electrical outlet or on the same power bar. This orientation alsoenables a small size that itself enables multiple devices or currenttaps or power bars per outlet. The physical size is critical to theusability of the device. As can be seen from FIG. 5 it is important thattwo Phantom Power Saver Switches be installed at a single dual AC walloutlet.

The apparatus is also intended to provide mobility and compatibility inthat it can remain attached to the electronic device or adapter when itis required to move from one location to another.

The apparatus can also be used as per above but without the indicatorfunction.

I have also invented a system comprising a phantom power saving powertap apparatus as described above with the addition of an electricaldevice and a source of electricity.

In addition, I have invented a method whereby a single electrical devicecan eliminate the consumption of phantom power. The method comprisesfour steps. The first step is the location and placement of the presentinvention apparatus between an electrical power source and an electricaldevice or power adapter. The second step is the application ofelectricity to the apparatus. Another step is the manual application ofelectrical power to the female blades and circuitry to enable both theindicator function and the provision of electrical power to the femaleblades. Still another step is the removal of electricity from the bladesand the electrical circuitry through manual application of a physicalelectrical switch.

This invention offers a substantial reduction in electricity productionand consumption. This creates a reduction in green house gas productionand has an added benefit of reducing electricity costs for consumers.According to Canadian government research, over ten percent of a home'selectricity costs are comprised of phantom power devices. This inventiontargets a well known contributor to this phantom power loss, namelypower adapters and battery chargers commonly used in mobile phones,laptop computers, cordless phones, baby monitors amongst otherelectronic appliances.

Of course this invention would not be needed if every person unpluggedall of their electronic devices when not providing useful functions. Buthuman nature being what it is people often do not want to unplugdevices, forget to unplug devices, find it physically difficult tounplug devices due to the amount of strength needed, or have electricaloutlets in inconvenient locations that make unplugging a difficultchore. My invention with its indicator function intends to remind peoplethat their power adapters and chargers have been left plugged in, sothat they may manually turn them off until they are needed again.

A novel implementation is the use of a printed circuit technology tointegrate the various functions of this Phantom Power Saver Power Tap.Typically power taps, current taps and power bars have adopted pressedor stamped metal parts or wiring harnesses to form conductive paths forpower distribution. The benefit of the printed circuit board is that itprovides the ability of a power bar and the benefit of a power bar to beused without wires or cabling.

A two piece plastic insulation housing is conceived where the printedcircuit board can be inserted into or may rest upon one part where thesecond part is attached. The housing shell made of polycarbonate orother plastic material shall contain cavities that will separate bladesand connectors from each other. Holes shall be made in the plastic partsfor which blades may pass through.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a power tap thatindicates phantom power is being consumed.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a power tapwith a manual means for users to switch off their power consumption.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a power tapthat does not block adjacent wall electrical outlets.

Yet further objective of the present invention is to provide a lowprofile power tap that improves aesthetics and usability for use inhouseholds.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a polarizedversion of a two pronged electrical tap that is optimized for a singleor dual device powering and switching.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art byreviewing the following diagrams and correlating these figures to thedescriptions of the embodiments contained herein.

FIG. 1. is an assembled perspective view of an embodiment of the phantompower saver power tap showing the left hand side and the front face.

FIG. 2 is a side on perspective view of an embodiment of the inventionshowing the top side which contains the switch.

FIG. 3 Is a partial exploded view showing top insulation casing removedto leave assembled printed circuit board received in bottom insulationcasing

FIG. 4 is a partial exploded view as in FIG. 3, but showing the righthand side with blades visible on the underside

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment with actual size depicting two devicessituated side by side on an electrical outlet

FIG. 6 shows top view of printed circuit board assembly

FIG. 7 shows the bottom view of the underside of the assembled printedcircuit board

FIG. 8 is an electrical circuit schematic of an embodiment of theinvention of a phantom power saver power tap.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the top insulation casing and the bottominsulation casing all shown from the insides to display the ribbing andsupport structural design

FIG. 10 is a cross hatched view of the top insulation casing thatdisplays casing ribbing against the back drop of the assembled printedcircuit board.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Apparatus Aspect

Referring to FIG. 1 showing a first preferred embodiment of the phantompower saver switch power tap in accordance with the present invention,the power tap 10 includes a first insulation casing 6 and a secondinsulation casing 7 coupled to the first insulation casing 6 to form aclosed space to receive a printed circuit board 8, a pair of conductivemale blades 1,2, a pair of conductive female receptacles as accessedthrough holes 3,5 and a switch 4 therein.

The second insulation casing 7 defines a receiving space to seat theprinted circuit board where the male blades 1, 2 pass though rectangularholes 11,12 to form a pair of male electrical plug blades external toinsulation casing 7, leaving the printed circuit board seated inreceiving space of insulation casing 7.

The printed circuit board defines a pair of male blades 1,2 visibleexternally to insulation casing 7 and a pair of receiving femalereceptacle holes 3,5. The male blades 1,2 extend outside the insulationcasing 7, while the female receptacle holes 3,5 are visible from outsidethe insulation casing 6 through two not identical rectangular holes.Through the female receptacle holes 3,5, the female receivingreceptacles define a receiving space 14,15 through conductive femalereceptacles.

In another embodiment each of the conducting members is substantiallyformed to perform its function 13, 14, 15,16. The male blade 13 isinserted through the top of the printed circuit board to appearpredominantly below the printed circuit board to create a male blade,while a portion of the male conducting member snaps into place on thetop side of the printed circuit board 13.

The female receptacle 14 is inserted through the top of the printedcircuit board to rest in a position predominantly on top of the printedcircuit board while a portion remains below the printed circuit boardand snaps into place on the bottom side of the printed circuit board.

The female blade receptacles provide tension and retention so that anymale blade inserted through holes 3,5 can only be removed with directintentional force.

In another embodiment, the conducting member 15,16 is substantiallyformed in an L shape to allow its function as both a male blade 2,16inserted through the top of the printed circuit board to appearpredominantly below the printed circuit board to create a male blade anda female receptacle 15 which rests in a position predominantly on top ofthe printed circuit board.

The male blade 1 in FIG. 1 presented externally is the same part as themale blade 13 presented internally in FIG. 6, while the male blade 2 inFIG. 1 presented externally is the same part as the male blade 16 inFIG. 6. The female receptacle, accessible externally though hole 3 isthe same part internally as female blade receptacle 15 in FIG. 6 whilethe female blade receptacle accessible externally in FIG. 1 is the samepart as the female receptacle 14 in FIG. 6.

The L shaped blade 15,16 the male blade 13 and the female blade 14 formthe on plug arrangement where through a ninety degree rotation of twoblades of the female receptacles 14,15, the two female receptacles canbe contained in the same square area of the plug area as the two maleblades therein. The male blades 13, 16 are considered to be aligned inthe vertical plane at zero degrees, where the female blade receptaclesare considered to be aligned at ninety degrees clockwise rotation orninety degrees counterclockwise rotation, aligned with a horizontalplane, as in FIG. 6.

Once the printed circuit board 8 is seated in the insulation casing 7,insulation casing 6 is coupled to insulation casing 7.

The insulation casing 6 contains an internal rib structure 17, 18 thatencloses the female receptacles 14, 15 for electrical isolation andphysical isolation and physical protection. The wall ribs serve torestrict movement of any male blade that becomes inserted through holes3,5 making contact with female receptacles 14,15. The receptaclesthemselves restrict motion in the horizontal plane so the wall ribsinvention serves to restrict motion in the vertical plane.

Rectification. The Phantom Power Saver Power Tap will require power toprovide indication and intends to get this power from the AC mains powerbut will rectify this AC power only partially so that indicators can bemade active. A rectifier circuit containing a single diode will be usedto provide partial rectification of the AC mains power line. See FIG. 8.

Resistive voltage reduction. After rectifying the voltage, a resistivenetwork is used to reduce voltage levels before it reaches theindicators. See FIG. 8.

Insulation casing 7 is comprised of a translucent material to allow thepassage of light.

SYSTEM Aspect

Also disclosed is a system that acts as an intermediary switch and powerdistribution point between a source of electrical power and anelectrical or electronic device. It is commonly know that when one turnsoff their television, it is not truly off. Electronic systems that havea remote control feature have electronic circuitry that remains oneagerly awaiting the signal from a remote control. While in this standbymode appliances like televisions consume phantom power. Some people seekto eliminate all phantom power consumption in their homes and office butmanufacturers are reluctant to solve this problem at their system level.This reluctance creates a need for invention of intermediary devicesthat can truly switch off electronic appliances. The disclosed systemeliminates the consumption of phantom power for all electronic devicesplugged into it.

The system aspect of the disclosed invention comprises a source ofelectrical power, an electronic device presented as an electrical loadand an intermediary phantom power saver power tap apparatus. The powertap apparatus has been described above. The system permits the applianceto remain in a plugged-into-the-wall state, while providing a means toeliminate the phantom power consumed by the system.

METHOD Aspect

In addition I have invented a method whereby a single electrical devicecan eliminate the consumption of phantom power without the need forelaborate electronic circuitry to provide power detection andautomatically act on a given power state. The method allows for thecontinued use of adjacent electrical outlets without covering themunnecessarily. The method also allows for the critical manualintervention that proves to be the most energy efficient means to reducephantom power consumption with the greatest reliability.

The method comprises four steps. The first step is the location andplacement of the present invention apparatus between an electrical powersource and an electrical device or power adapter. The second step is theapplication of electricity to the apparatus. Another step is the manualapplication of electrical power to the female blades and circuitry toenable both the indicator function and the provision of electrical powerto the female blades. Still another step is the removal of electricityfrom the blades and the electrical circuitry through manual applicationof a physical electrical switch.

Modifications permutations and changes made to the claims anddescription of the embodiments to fit the aforementioned applicationwill be apparent to those skilled in the art. All omissions,substitutions and changes are considered as forming embodiments notaforementioned and thus do not constitute departures from the apparatus,system or method as disclosed and do not deviate from the spirit of theinvention.

1. A phantom-power saver power tap apparatus comprising: An insulationcasing; a printed circuit board received in the insulation casing; atleast one female conductive member having at least one fixed portionlocated on the printed circuit board and defining a retaining portionand receiving space; at least one male conductive member having at leastone fixed portion located on the printed circuit board and defining ablade end protruding out of the insulation casing; and at least onemechanical switch received in the insulation casing (1) having an openposition when connectivity between conducting members is not requiredenabling zero electricity consumption and (2) having a closed positionwhen it is desirable to have electricity pass between male and femaleconducting members.
 2. The power tap apparatus of claim 1 wherein anelectrical circuit is used to provide indication of active phantom powerconsumption.
 3. The power tap apparatus of claim 1 wherein there is noelectrical circuit to provide indication of active electrical powerconsumption.
 4. The power tap apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least oneconductive member is an L shaped combination of female conductivereceiving member and male blade conductive member.
 5. The power tapapparatus of claim 1 wherein there is a ninety degree rotation between apair of male conductive blades and a pair of female conductive receivingreceptacles and space thus forming a cross configuration with the twomale blades in one plane and the two receiving female members in anotherplane that is rotated either plus ninety degrees or minus ninetydegrees.
 6. An electrically powered system comprising an electricallypowered device and a phantom-power saver power tap apparatus comprising:An insulation casing; a printed circuit board received in the insulationcasing; at least one female conductive member having at least one fixedportion located on the printed circuit board and defining a retainingportion and receiving space; at least one male conductive member havingat least one fixed portion located on the printed circuit board anddefining a blade end protruding out of the insulation casing; and atleast one mechanical switch received in the insulation casing (1) havingan open position when connectivity between conducting members is notrequired to enable zero electricity consumption and (2) having a closedposition when it is desirable to have electricity pass between male andfemale conducting members.
 7. The system of claim 6 wherein anelectrical circuit is used to provide indication of active phantom powerconsumption.
 8. The system of claim 6 wherein there is no electricalcircuit to provide indication of active electrical power consumption. 9.The system of claim 6 wherein at least one conductive member is an Lshaped combination of female conductive member and male blade conductivemember.
 10. The system of claim 6 wherein there is a ninety degreerotation between a pair of male conductive blades and a pair of femaleconductive receiving receptacles and space thus forming a crossconfiguration with the two male blades in one plane and the tworeceiving female members in another plane that is rotated either plusninety degrees or minus ninety degrees.
 11. A method of using aphantom-power saver power tap apparatus to convey power to an electricaldevice with the power tap only consuming power while providing anindication of phantom power consumption when an external device isattached to the power tap and the power tap is acting as an intermediaryswitching system comprising; an insulation casing; a printed circuitboard received in the insulation casing; at least one female conductivemember having at least one fixed portion located on the printed circuitboard and defining a retaining portion and receiving space; and at leastone male conductive member having at least one fixed portion located onthe printed circuit board and defining a blade end protruding out of theinsulation casing; at least one mechanical switch received in theinsulation casing (1) having an open position when connectivity betweenconducting members is not required to enable zero electricityconsumption and (2) having a closed position when it is desirable tohave electricity pass between male and female conducting members. 12.The method of claim 11, further comprising leaving the power tapconnected to the source of electricity with automatic indication ofphantom power consumption and manual intervention to turn the switch offto eliminate more power being drawn by the device attached to the powertap.
 13. The method of claim 11, further comprising turning the switchback on to re-establish electrical power connectivity to the deviceconnected to the power tap.